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During a 35-minute Hilton Coliseum news conference attended by members of his team, coaching staffs of the school’s men’s and women’s basketball programs and administrators, McDermott discussed Wesley Johnson’s stunning decision last week to transfer.

Johnson had essentially put the blame on McDermott in an interview Tuesday, saying he left because of a poor relationship with his coach. McDermott didn’t fire back.

“What good does it do?” McDermott said later. “Am I happy with the decision that was made? No. But my disappointment isn’t going to change the outcome.”

There were hints that McDermott believes Johnson’s transfer goes deeper than a sour player-coach relationship.

“I’ve heard rumors, like probably a lot of you have, but I’m not going to comment on anything I can’t prove,” McDermott said.

On Saturday, when McDermott traveled to Corsicana, Texas, to visit with Johnson, McDermott asked for examples of their dissolving relationship. He said Johnson didn’t have any.

“Which makes it sound a little fishy,” McDermott said.

Iowa State has not released Johnson from his scholarship, even though 12 to 15 schools have requested that letter of release. No one at Iowa State would name those schools, though Alabama and Kentucky are believed to be serious contenders for Johnson’s services.

McDermott said the fact that Johnson said Tuesday that he had decided to transfer two months ago, but didn’t announce his intentions until last week, put the program in a tough recruiting spot.

“Factor all that in and I’m in no hurry to release him,” McDermott said.

McDermott was driving home from a Cyclone athletic function in Davenport a week ago, women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly by his side, when a member of Johnson’s family called with the news.

“He started shaking,” Fennelly said. “I asked him if he wanted me to drive.”

Shock has been replaced by the reality that Johnson, a 6-foot-7 sophomore expected to be one of the team’s best players in 2008-09, won’t be back.

“His teammates voted Wes a captain (for next season), and the captain has made a decision that he doesn’t want to be a part of it,” McDermott said. “That bothers me for our guys.”

Freshman Craig Brackins said he had no hint Johnson was going to leave.

“It was shocking,” said Brackins, who got the news from McDermott on Sunday. “We took the same final together (May 8), then I left for the airport to go home. He said, ‘Hey, see you in a couple of weeks.’ ”

Freshman Diante Garrett also got the news from his coach.

“My stomach just dropped,” Garrett said. “I didn’t see that coming. No clue.”

Johnson helped host recruits on the weekends of March 28-30 and April 11-12, and signed up for a summer class April 17.

McDermott asked Johnson to help interview Danyial Robinson on May 1. Robinson was hired to replace Jean Prioleau on the coaching staff. On May 2, Johnson signed his summer housing contract. He signed a scholarship renewal letter May 6, and lined up a summer job that same week. He left town May 10.

Johnson was to return to Ames to start rehabilitation on his injured left foot Monday.
When he didn’t show up for his 8 a.m. appointment, basketball trainer Vic Miller sent him a text message asking where he was.

Johnson played hurt all season, missing five games after suffering a bone bruise in his left ankle during preseason practice. On May 25, an MRI discovered a chondral defect in that ankle.

“If Wesley doesn’t get hurt, I don’t think we’re sitting here right now,” McDermott said.
Instead, McDermott faces the prospect of playing the 2008-09 season without a valuable piece of the rebuilding puzzle.

“We’re going to figure out a way to build this program in a way our fans are proud of,” McDermott said. “This program is way, way bigger than just one guy.”

Re: DMR: McDermott, Craig and Diante shocked about Wesley's departure

Man I feel bad for McD and his crew. You start to believe that you are with a group of kids who buy in and then WHAM, side swiped. Greg seems like a genuine guy and I hate to see this stuff happend to good people.

“This program is way, way bigger than just one guy.” Couldnt agree more.

Re: DMR: McDermott, Craig and Diante shocked about Wesley's departure

Wow!
"Iowa State has not released Johnson from his scholarship, even though 12 to 15 schools have requested that letter of release. No one at Iowa State would name those schools, though Alabama and Kentucky are believed to be serious contenders for Johnson’s services."

Re: DMR: McDermott, Craig and Diante shocked about Wesley's departure

I don't envy Greg, not one bit, even with the nice salary - for having to endure this...

McDermott was driving home from a Cyclone athletic function in Davenport a week ago, women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly by his side, when a member of Johnson’s family called with the news.

“He started shaking,” Fennelly said. “I asked him if he wanted me to drive.”

Freshman Craig Brackins said he had no hint Johnson was going to leave.

“It was shocking,” said Brackins, who got the news from McDermott on Sunday. “We took the same final together (May 8), then I left for the airport to go home. He said, ‘Hey, see you in a couple of weeks.’ ”

Freshman Diante Garrett also got the news from his coach.

“My stomach just dropped,” Garrett said. “I didn’t see that coming. No clue.”

This would certainly contradict what we read in the interview with Wes and other information posted on CF.

Re: DMR: McDermott, Craig and Diante shocked about Wesley's departure

Originally Posted by goldmember

Wow!
"Iowa State has not released Johnson from his scholarship, even though 12 to 15 schools have requested that letter of release. No one at Iowa State would name those schools, though Alabama and Kentucky are believed to be serious contenders for Johnsonís services."

I wouldn't read into that; the Register's "source" is probably this message board.

Re: DMR: McDermott, Craig and Diante shocked about Wesley's departure

Guys this is not true at all. All the players knew that Wes was leaving. Just ask CyFan13. The players and coaches knew and McD just couldn't relate and the players don't like him. Why would we listen to comments that come straight from the players mouth when we could listen to her? After all she knows the players!!

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